June Pocket Rocket Challenge

[SteveP]

Would that be a Detective I see in your not too distant future, SteveP?

Something like it. My original design has been through a few modifications since then. The rest of the parts aren't due to arrive until the end of July so I have some time to decide.

[SteveP]

Will we see more pictures in mod squad? 

Sure! The rest of the parts aren't due to arrive until the end of July so it will be a while.   

[Jud65]

Sure! The rest of the parts aren't due to arrive until the end of July so it will be a while.   

Worth waiting for…

[PitCarver]

Day 29

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Rambler liberated a traditional knife from the package, just in time for the upcoming Dean Memorial Traditional Challenge in July.  This modern 'old timer' in bone covers is pretty decent for its price point, I foresee it should be a good user in time to come.

I like those with the bone scales.  Easy to sand them down around the edges for a comfortable feel.
Nice choice.

[comis]

I like those with the bone scales.  Easy to sand them down around the edges for a comfortable feel.
Nice choice.

Most sharp corners have came chamfered, I'm liking this knife already.

[SteveP]

Day 29

The screwdriver tip on the Mini Champ helped pry out a stubborn dead battery from a wall clock.

And also an action photo after.

Hard to believe nearly the whole month has gone by.

[Rizio Il Ghiro]

Day 29


Hard to believe nearly the whole month has gone by.

Day 29 bonus - fail!

Well, I was going to have a bbq with the Wenger Esquire on opening duties at the ready on the table I didn’t sand earlier due to prospect of rain later this evening….. well it started raining shortly after this pic, so it’ll be pasta tonight! I should have known better, Wimbledon fortnight means rain, and it has so far this week!

[Nix]

Day 29:


Restoring a pencil point on the penultimate day....

[Appleandrew]

Day 29

HP 41CV……. 

[Max Stone]

Nice! 

[Fireman]

DAY 29  Oh, the shame...    PTC was so dull I could press on the edge of the blade as if it were the nail file.  The Sharpmaker got it back in envelope cutting form.

[Sos24]

Love that Spork and stove SoS !

Thanks.  The spork is my favorite.  I have an affinity for alcohol stoves and collapsible stands.

Got to love those SnowPeak sporks, Sos24- trust all went well!

SnowPeak does make nice stuff.  All went well.  The little stand also acts as a nice windscreen.  I will probably in the future replace the steel stakes with smaller and lighter (maybe titanium ones), but they work.

What a lovely set of camp wares!  I notice many of us have been using their camp gears for outings since the GSMRE, that's kinda cool and inspiring.

Thanks.  I’ve really appreciate getting outdoors even more the the last year if only to make a cup of coffee.

[Sos24]

Day 29

The screwdriver tip on the Mini Champ helped pry out a stubborn dead battery from a wall clock.

And also an action photo after.

Hard to believe nearly the whole month has gone by.

Cool clock.

Agree the month has gone quick.

Day 29 bonus - fail!

Well, I was going to have a bbq with the Wenger Esquire on opening duties at the ready on the table I didn’t sand earlier due to prospect of rain later this evening….. well it started raining shortly after this pic, so it’ll be pasta tonight! I should have known better, Wimbledon fortnight means rain, and it has so far this week!

It is a shame the bbq didn’t happen.  Looked like some good eats.

Day 29:


Restoring a pencil point on the penultimate day....


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I am frequently surprised by how often members use their knives to sharpen pencils, but I guess if you don’t have a sharpener or want to use the knife it works.

 

Day 29

HP 41CV…….

Nice calculator

DAY 29  Oh, the shame...    PTC was so dull I could press on the edge of the blade as if it were the nail file.  The Sharpmaker got it back in envelope cutting form.


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Good job.  I hate dull blades.

[GA1dad]

DAY 29

The Esquire did the job of clipping zip ties very handily.

[glenfiddich1983]

Day 29

[ulzhan]

Day 29

This ain't no bit driver...

[ElevenBlade]

Day 29

Looking at the Classic in comparison with the tool that has spent many months in my pocket as a backup at work. I initially got the Micra as a backup for work when I was carrying the Alox Soldier.

Its really 6 in one and half-dozen in the other. What I still like about the Micra is the sturdiness of the tools at this small size. I like the blade better, and the larger scissors have an advantage.  What I like about the Classic is that it’s easier to get at the tools, by a large margin.

[Nix]

I am frequently surprised by how often members use their knives to sharpen pencils, but I guess if you don’t have a sharpener or want to use the knife it works.

Mrs Nix has...*** gasp ***...an electric pencil sharpener.

Me, I prefer a hand-tuned pencil point. (My father always cut his pencils. I liked the way his handwriting looked, so I started doing it too. Although...I'm fond of a mechanical pencil as well.  )

[SteveP]

DAY 29  Oh, the shame...    PTC was so dull I could press on the edge of the blade as if it were the nail file.  The Sharpmaker got it back in envelope cutting form.


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I didn't even realize how dull the main blade had become on my Mini Champ until I started using it more during this challenge. But I've had it for over 20 years and have never sharpened it.

I'm a complete newbie at sharpening knives, but the Victorinox dual knife sharpener put a nice edge back on it (and on the small blade on an Explorer). I don't have the experience to say if it (or I) did a really good job, but it's sharper now so that's improvement!

Anyone with more experience got an opinion on this sharpener?

[Nix]

Anyone with more experience got an opinion on this sharpener?

I have one, but have not used it much.

I'm not fond of "pull-through" sharpeners. They tend to tear out microscopic bits of metal. (This is documented with carbide pull-through sharpeners; I don't know about ceramic sharpeners.) Additionally, pull-through sharpeners only allow for one set angle. This may be perfect for SAKs, but I prefer to freehand sharpen.

In a pinch, I'd use the pull through.

I like the stone element, although I've never achieved a fine edge with it. I think it is a bit coarse (mine feels rough when I use it). I do like the variety of curves and shapes the stone has. I'm sure it'll see some use when I go to sharpen the serrations on my Vic Skipper and Soldier. (I also have a taper diamond rod that might see use on those serrations.)

The Vic sharpener seems pretty hand and easy to stash in a bag or pocket. I think it is pretty good for a 'field tool', but I'm more comfortable with some of my other stones at home. I bet more capable sharpeners may feel differently though. Some guys seem to be able to get a razor edge off a cement block. 

[ElevenBlade]

Day 29:


Restoring a pencil point on the penultimate day....


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I remember my grandfather used to sharpen pencils this way. 

[Nix]

I remember my grandfather used to sharpen pencils this way. 

Go on....

[GearedForwards]

I have one, but have not used it much.

I'm not fond of "pull-through" sharpeners. They tend to tear out microscopic bits of metal. (This is documented with carbide pull-through sharpeners; I don't know about ceramic sharpeners.) Additionally, pull-through sharpeners only allow for one set angle. This may be perfect for SAKs, but I prefer to freehand sharpen.

In a pinch, I'd use the pull through.

I like the stone element, although I've never achieved a fine edge with it. I think it is a bit coarse (mine feels rough when I use it). I do like the variety of curves and shapes the stone has. I'm sure it'll see some use when I go to sharpen the serrations on my Vic Skipper and Soldier. (I also have a taper diamond rod that might see use on those serrations.)

The Vic sharpener seems pretty hand and easy to stash in a bag or pocket. I think it is pretty good for a 'field tool', but I'm more comfortable with some of my other stones at home. I bet more capable sharpeners may feel differently though. Some guys seem to be able to get a razor edge off a cement block. 

Carbide pull throughs hog off way too much metal, partially through people using too much force with them and them being misused. They're marketed as all you need, but it'd be like touching up your edge with 100 grit stones...

The ceramic pull through on the Vic is pretty incapable of the same kind of hogging since it's fine ceramic, it's more intended as a 'hone' it's actually the sole reason I bought the sharpener. In my misguided youth I sold off my previous system whenever I upgraded, leaving me with only the Wicked Edge and stones topping out at 600 grit. The Vic has so far proved good at rejuvinating a few blades like my dull old Swisscard with a couple dozen swipes of the pass through so I'm fairly happy with it. The stone is good enough, it's just a step beyond honing, ideally you'd strop or use the pull through before letting the edge need the stone.

Quick aside, so many people are unhappy in Amazon reviews because they expected an easy sharpener and then scratch up or mess up their knives, it's convenient but you still have to know how to actually sharpen to use it, which I think defeats the purpose of the product to some degree (unless they actually include instructions that is).

Overall pretty happy with it... besides it coming apart immediately and needing an hour of love with a micro drive and straight pin.

[ElevenBlade]

Go on....

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[ElevenBlade]

Carbide pull throughs hog off way too much metal, partially through people using too much force with them and them being misused. They're marketed as all you need, but it'd be like touching up your edge with 100 grit stones...

The ceramic pull through on the Vic is pretty incapable of the same kind of hogging since it's fine ceramic, it's more intended as a 'hone' it's actually the sole reason I bought the sharpener. In my misguided youth I sold off my previous system whenever I upgraded, leaving me with only the Wicked Edge and stones topping out at 600 grit. The Vic has so far proved good at rejuvinating a few blades like my dull old Swisscard with a couple dozen swipes of the pass through so I'm fairly happy with it. The stone is good enough, it's just a step beyond honing, ideally you'd strop or use the pull through before letting the edge need the stone.

Quick aside, so many people are unhappy in Amazon reviews because they expected an easy sharpener and then scratch up or mess up their knives, it's convenient but you still have to know how to actually sharpen to use it, which I think defeats the purpose of the product to some degree (unless they actually include instructions that is).

Overall pretty happy with it... besides it coming apart immediately and needing an hour of love with a micro drive and straight pin.

Great info here.  I'm currently planning on getting a sharpening system that would do well for Opinel knives, and of course Victorinox as well.  Using a carbide pull through I was able to get a nice sharp edge, presumably because there's a full flat grind without a secondary bevel on the Opinel, but you know how rabbit holes can be.  Since I was able to get a notable difference, I'm wondering if there are other options besides a) table top systems with clamps or b) a proper set of stones. 

Is Vic the way to go for a pull through sharpener, or are there other good options?

[Nix]

The ceramic pull through on the Vic is pretty incapable of the same kind of hogging since it's fine ceramic, it's more intended as a 'hone' it's actually the sole reason I bought the sharpener.

I'd like it better if the ceramic elements were cylindrical rods instead of squared off blocks. I've only used the pull-through feature to really, really lightly de-burr an edge. Again, I run into the difficulty that I use the stone freehand (Meaning I sharpen consistently at an angle of 12-60º on any given stroke.  ) but the ceramics are set for a specific angle*.

I'll try using the stone element a bit more often. Sometimes a stone smoothes out with a bit of use.

I do like the way the stone and cap can be inserted into the stone's sheath and the sheath used as a handle. Very Vic. Very handy.



* I have a Spyderco Sharpmaker. I usually take the triangular elements out of the base and use them freehand, too. I guess I don't like having to conform to other people's angles.   

[Nix]

Is Vic the way to go for a pull through sharpener, or are there other good options?

The Spyderco Sharpmaker is a nice tool. 

[cbl51]

Great info here.  I'm currently planning on getting a sharpening system that would do well for Opinel knives, and of course Victorinox as well.  Using a carbide pull through I was able to get a nice sharp edge, presumably because there's a full flat grind without a secondary bevel on the Opinel, but you know how rabbit holes can be.  Since I was able to get a notable difference, I'm wondering if there are other options besides a) table top systems with clamps or b) a proper set of stones. 

Is Vic the way to go for a pull through sharpener, or are there other good options?

I've had great luck with the bottom ring of a coffee mug.  A light touch up after breakfast to start the day. Some soup bowls work good too!

[ElevenBlade]

The Spyderco Sharpmaker is a nice tool. 

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When you're as clumsy as me, would you be able to keep the angle steady?  Do you just need to keep the blade perpendicular to the base?  Is there an advantage to using this over a set of stones? (I'm guessing the answer is yes, and that it's actually easier to maintain a consistent angle)  Can it get as sharp as 8000-10,000 grit stones?  Am I asking too many questions?   

[ElevenBlade]

I've had great luck with the bottom ring of a coffee mug.  A light touch up after breakfast to start the day. Some soup bowls work good too!

Pretty much what I've been doing for the last couple of years